Daily Headlines for September 14, 2012
The Way To Better Schools Is Around Unions
Boston Globe, MA, September 14, 2012
THIS WEEK is one that illustrates a stark reality about education reform and collective bargaining. In Boston, the city went into negotiations intent on getting a longer school day to boost student performance. The agreement reached this week, after some two years of negotiation, does not include any new classroom time for kids.
Obama’s Crew Waging War On Unions
Appeal Democrat, CA, September 13, 2012
Unions are under attack in the United States — not only from people like Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, but now, with the teachers strike in Chicago, from the very core of President Barack Obama’s inner circle, his former chief of staff and current mayor of that city, Rahm Emanuel
What Public Charter Schools Have Taught Us About Public Education
Huffington Post Blog, September 13, 2012
Twenty years ago this month, a revolutionary new kind of school opened, forging the path for the most innovative public education reform movement in a century.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Fresno Unified OKs Lowell-Area Charter Schools
The Fresno Bee, CA, September 13, 2012
Plans for two new charter schools in Fresno ‘s Lowell neighborhood promise new opportunities for children and parents in one of the city’s most troubled communities.
Bullis Charter School Files New Lawsuit Against Los Altos School District
Contra Costa Times, CA, September 14, 2012
Bullis Charter School switched legal tacks this week in its bid to win one of Los Altos School District ‘s nine campuses.
COLORADO
Politicians Praise School Board
Our Colorado News, CO, September 13, 2012
Two Republican politicians praised the Douglas County School District and board during the group’s Sept. 5 meeting. State Sen. Ted Harvey and state Rep. Chris Holbert, both Douglas County residents, said they came to express their gratitude.
DELAWARE
New Faces In Classrooms
News Journal, DE, September 14, 2012
A program at MOT Charter helps connect parents to the classroom by including them as volunteers who help teachers with small-group programs, such as the literacy-boosting bingo game.
FLORIDA
Charter School Plan Holds Great Promise For South Brooksville
Tampa Bay Times, FL, September 14, 2012
If you’ve heard Hernando County has a two-tiered public school system — and it does — you’ve no doubt guessed who’s on the second tier:
Duval Could Lose $7 Million State Funding Because Of Low Enrollment
Florida Times Union, FL, September 13, 2012
Enrollment in the Duval County Public Schools is down about 1,600 from where it was expected to be at this point of the new school year.
Hot-Button Bills’ Fates May Hinge On Florida Senate Races
Orlando Sentinel, FL, September 13, 2012
The two races are Senate District 8, in Volusia, Lake and Marion counties, where Democratic Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno faces Republican state Rep. Dorothy Hukill; and Senate District 14, in Orange, Osceola and Polk counties, where Republican lawyer Will McBride faces Democratic state Rep. Darren Soto.
GEORGIA
Charter Questions Need Answers
Cherokee Tribune, GA, September 14, 2012
Cherokee County School Board member Michael Geist seems confused why he is getting so much negative feedback about the lack of fiscal controls in the charter school amendment he supports.
Charter Amendment Will Enliven State Politics
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, September 13, 2012
Fear not, political junkies despairing over the lack of campaign activity in Georgia , because an issue is bringing life to your fall.
Farmer Hails Barge’s Charter Schools Stand
Times-Herald, GA, September 14, 2012
Coweta County Board of Education member Frank Farmer is urging voters to educate themselves about the Nov. 6 Georgia charter school amendment vote.
ILLINOIS
Chicago’s Teachers Work Long Hours for Too Little Pay
Wall Street Journal, September 13, 2012
We teachers in Chicago’s public schools are very aware that our system needs reform, but we don’t need the latest education fad from some high-price consultant, who is some board member’s second cousin, shoved down our throats. Instead, spend that money in the classroom—on paint, books, social workers, aides, music and art. I think then the nation will see what real education reform looks like.
CPS Deal Up In Air As Talks Extend Into Early Morning
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 14, 2012
Chicago Public Schools and the teachers union began the day saying they were close to a deal that could return teachers and students to the classroom Monday, but gave little information subsequently as negotiations to iron out details extended well into Thursday evening.
Fresh Hopes for End to Chicago Teacher Strike by Weekend
New York Times, NY, September 14, 2012
Meeting behind closed doors into the evening, leaders on both sides of this city’s teacher strike voiced optimism on Thursday that a deal could soon be reached, bringing an end to a walkout that has halted classes for 350,000 students in the nation’s third-largest school system.
School Closings Open Door To Charters
Chicago Sun Times, IL, September 13, 2012
The Chicago school system is so cash-strapped that it plans to close and consolidate under-utilized schools, with rumors that it could be upward of 120 schools this coming year. Many people would consider this to be fiscally prudent. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is of course going to blame the soon-to-be agreed upon new union contract.
Amid Chicago Teachers Strike, Some Parents Mull Private, Charter SchoolsReuters, September 13, 2012
With a Chicago Public School teachers strike in its fourth day on Thursday, some parents are looking into possible alternatives including charter or private schools.
Reforming Education
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 14, 2012
The teachers strike in Chicago is not about money. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has offered an average 16 percent pay increase over four years even as the school district faces a $1 billion deficit. Imagine a private company with that kind of balance sheet being so generous.
Teachers Unions May Turn On Democrats
Evansville Courier & Press, IL, September 14, 2012
An old truism about feeding bears seems to apply to the strike by 26,000 Chicago teachers. You can feed a bear regularly without incident until one day you forget or don’t give him as much as he wants and he eats you.
Chicago Teachers Balk At Accountability
USA Today, September 13, 2012
The apparent sticking point in the negotiations is whether a teacher’s contribution to student learning as measured on standardized tests will play a meaningful part in that teacher’s evaluation.
Comparing Apples To Apples In Chicago’s Charter Schools
ChicagoNow Blog, IL, September 13, 2012
Amid the Chicago Teachers Union’s demands during this week’s strike, there is a quieter but no less important discussion occurring. Chicago’s parents, activists, journalists, and regular citizens are discussing the performance of traditional public schools compared to the performance of charter public schools.
INDIANA
IPS Student Losses Appear Less Drastic Than Expected
Indianapolis Star, IN, September 13, 2012
Mary Jackman left the decision up to her daughter Ilesha . Should she remain at Manual High School , which was about to be taken over by the state, or transfer to a different Indianapolis Public School ?
IOWA
State May Rank Iowa Teacher Colleges, Graduates’ Performance
Des Moines Register, IA, September 14, 2012
Ranking Iowa ’s teacher colleges and tracking the performance of their graduates are among ideas being considered by the state’s Board of Education.
LOUISIANA
4,994 Qualify For School Tuition Aid
The Advocate, LA, September 14, 2012
Nearly 5,000 students are enrolled in Louisiana’s expanded voucher program, state Superintendent of Education John White said Thursday.
Voucher Fund Use To Be Audited
The Advertiser, LA, September 14, 2012
Private and parochial schools receiving state funds for vouchers must submit to audits of how those funds are used.
Making Voucher Schools More Accountable
Times-Picayune, LA, September 13, 2012
If someone asked me to devise a strategy to get the government to more closely regulate private schools, I might suggest something like this: First, propose a bill that would allow thousands of students in struggling public schools to spend millions in taxpayer dollars on private school tuition.
MARYLAND
Something Doesn’t Add Up About Private School Vouchers
Baltimore Sun, MD, September 13, 2012
For once I agree with Marta Mossburg, that something needs to be done about Baltimore City public schools (“Baltimore City schoolchildren deserve a real choice,” Sept. 12). But I’m very curious where she came up with the numbers she uses to push her idea for vouchers.
MASSACHUSETTS
In School Pact, Taxpayers Win, But Students Don’t Get Enough
Boston Globe, MA, September 14, 2012
THE TENTATIVE contract agreement with the Boston Teachers Union “will take our schools to new heights,” declared Mayor Menino. The reality is more tempered. Faced with a stalemate on potentially far-reaching reforms, Menino chose a good financial deal over continued head-pounding negotiations. The result is a relief for taxpayers, a contract for teachers that values job protection over economic gain, and an understandable — but not entirely unexpected — sense of letdown for reformers.
Charter Chief Vows No New Staff Cuts
Gloucester Times, MA, September 14, 2012
Facing a substantial budget cut come December, the executive director of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School said he’s holding off on hiring some staffers and said he’ll reduce administrative salaries to balance the budget.
MICHIGAN
How Not to Measure Charter School Quality
Mackinac Center for Public Policy Blog, MI, September 13, 2012
In a recent article in the Detroit Free Press, an education policy organization called Education Trust-Midwest expressed concern that taxpayers were supporting too many “failing [charter] school operators.”
MISSISSIPPI
Planting Seeds: District Has High Expectations For Schools
Natchez Democrat, MS, September 14, 2012
McLaurin Elementary saw, this week, the results of a seed that Principal Alice Morrison said was planted last year by both teachers and students. The school received a “C,” or was labeled “successful,” for the 2011-2012 school year, according to unofficial state accountability results released this week.
MISSOURI
Charters And Traditional Public Schools Can Co-Exist, Leaders Say
St. Louis Beacon, MO, September 13, 2012
Bring together the superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools and the head of one of the city’s highest profile charter schools, and it’s not surprising you’ll come away from their presentation learning a new word:
NEW JERSEY
Teacher Tenure Reforms Will Improve N.J. Schools
Asbury Park Press, NJ, September 14, 2012
Teacher tenure reforms, which have been long in coming, will no doubt improve the quality of education for students throughout New Jersey . With this new school year, educators will deliver instruction effectively, and lessons will be carefully and thoughtfully planned.
OHIO
Cleveland Avoided Chicago’s School Impasse
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, September 13, 2012
Indeed, the Windy City could learn a lot from Cleveland , where Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland Teachers Union wrestled over similar issues last April — without allowing students to become collateral damage.
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia Archdiocese School Manager Sets Growth Goal
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 14, 2012
The private foundation managing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s financially strapped secondary schools announced its goal Thursday to increase enrollment at its campuses by about 4,000 – to levels last attained during the mid-1990s.
Bethlehem Schools Chief Asks State To Take Over Vitalistic Charter Probe
The Morning Call, PA, September 13, 2012
The Bethlehem Area School District has asked the state Department of Education to take over jurisdiction of the financially troubled Vitalistic Therapeutic Charter School , which has claimed sovereign immunity from the local oversight provisions in state law.
Patriot-News Forum On Education Reveals Uncertain, Changing Future
Patriot News, PA, September 13, 2012
One thing everyone agreed on at Thursday’s night’s Patriot-News forum on education in Camp Hill is whatever public education looks like 10 years from now, it’ll be different from what it is today.
TENNESSEE
More Money Doesn’t Lead To Greater Achievement
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, September 14, 2012
Tennessee ranked third from the bottom in education spending as a percentage of total state spending in a study released this week by the nonpartisan advocacy group State Budget Solutions. Tennessee teacher pay ranks around the middle of all states. SBS also reported Tennessee ‘s graduation rate and ACT scores fell below the national average each year from 2009-2011.
Herenton’s Hands to be ‘All Over’ Charter School Project
Memphis Daily News, TN, September 13, 2012
A memorandum of understanding is still to come. And there are the details of curriculum not to mention funding and a budget.
TEXAS
Voucher Issue Makes a Comeback
Texas Tribune, TX, September 14, 2012
He also used his speech to the Texas delegation there to make clear his intent to work with an erstwhile rival, Sen. Dan Patrick, on a key piece of education reform: school choice programs, possibly private school vouchers.
UTAH
U.S. Education Officials Study Progress in Salt Lake
Salt Lake Tribune, UT, September 13, 2012
When Glendale got the School Improvement grant in 2010, its principal was replaced. The school also lengthened the school day and year and added extra reading and math classes for struggling students.
WASHINGTON
Charter-Schools Debate In Preparation For November Election
Seattle Times, WA, September 13, 2012
I have supported the concept of locally controlled charter schools for 25 years. I believe the authors of Initiative 1240 are well-intentioned, but here’s the thing: On Jan. 12, 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Washington state is violating its constitutional duty to make ample provision for the education of all Washington children. The court has mandated an increase in education funding by 2018.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
600 EAA Students to Take Classes on Internet
Detroit News, MI, September 13, 2012
About 600 high school students attending the Education Achievement Authority in Detroit will take online courses for the first time this fall through the Michigan Virtual University .
Brevard Public Schools Review Online Teachers’ Credentials
Florida Today, FL, September 13, 2012
Brevard Public Schools will be verifying with parents that teachers of online classes run by for-profit company K12 are the same instructors the company claims are teaching.